500 hp Z28 NA.

Lightweight magnesium wheels, different louder/lighter exhaust, thinner windshield, lighter racing seats, no backseat, Z28 specific spoilers, carbon fibre hood, etc etc.

 

1LE (1SS w/ ZL1 suspension and brakes) + LS7 with carbon fiber hood, front fenders and trunk lid would make for a nice Z/28 in my opinion.

But then I'd also take the new 6.2L DI LT1... provided it was near 500hp.

 

i think they will always have backseats. even if their something like porsche has. it help on the insurance. and how much do you really think a lighter windshield is goign to benefit the car? without raising cost?

 

Seems like all the "lightweight" models these days do it like the Audi R8 GT.

 

The Boss 302 Laguna Seca has no backseats.

 

With stabilizer brace.

 

The LS7 is nothing short of a frigg'n great motor but I think given its special nature and cost, it wouldn't translate well into a Z/28. As others have mentioned, a LS7 equipped Z/28 using the suspension bits and pieces from the ZL1 would likely cost the same as the ZL1 with likely the same range of performance (provided GM could reduce weight enough to cover the 80hp deficit) and without the ease of modibility that the ZL1 has by dint of its supercharged engine.

IMO the Z/28 like the Boss should slot in nicely between the SS and ZL1 pricewise and thats something you wont be able to do with the LS7.

I've said before that taking all the goodies out of the LS7 that allows it to make its 505hp (mainly the bits and pieces which allow it to rev higher and maintain durability) in order to constrain costs would neuter what is otherwise a standout powerplant from GM.

Again IMO, it would be better to take the current 6.2 in the SS and work it over to achieve better than SS power numbers in naturally aspirated trim.

 

Since we are just plain speculating now, I would like to see the LS Model Camaro get a 427. It was a great concept for the Mustang back in the day with the LX302! It would be the ultimate sleeper with the black wheels and stock hood...

-Geoff

 

The ZL1 just stomped a Leguna Seca 302 in a comparision... and all we can talk about is the Z28

 

which also cost over 100K

 

so if the boss 302 laguna seca jumped off a bridge, should the camaro do it too? is the minimal weight savings of losing a backseat, really worth the price increase in insurance and the ability to no longer carry and back passengers? honestly, i wouldnt care if it had or didnt have a back seat, but it would be a hell of alot better on insurance and it would make the car much more usable in everyday driving, being that you could actually put a person back there.

 

Fixed.

Really this is an apples to oranges comparison. Honestly, even though I am impressed by both cars, it actually impresses me more that the Laguna Seca was that close to the ZL1.

 

2.4 seconds per lap is not just "edging out" a competitor.

And yes, the ZL1 has lots of high tech goodies. But it isn't like the Boss LS is a '60s Trans Am racer or something. Plus, it has a rather huge goodie of its own - a 413 lb weight advantage. Not to mention the fact that the Boss in general, and especially the Laguna Seca version, was made specifically with track duty in mind. Hell, the latter is named after a world famous racetrack.

I am duly impressed by the straight line speed of the Boss, but to me it is damn impressive that the much-heavier (and faster in a straight line) ZL1 was also able to maintain or add to its lead in the corners I think some people expected the car to be a straight line wonder that isn't happy when the road gets curvy, as the GT500 has been at times (relatively speaking, of course).

I wish they had a current GT500 along for the test, as well. I suspect the Boss would have been right on top of it, if not quicker.

 

I'm going to disagree with you. While the comparison is Apple to Oranges. It is incredible to think that a car that is not designed to compete with the Boss, beat the Boss at tests that were suppose to be the Bosses advantage. I find that to be a butt kicking. $10k more is the only thing the ZL1 lost in. But when you find that the ZL1 is $10k-$20k less than a CTS-V (which are very comparable performance wise), its quite the bargain.

 

The road course numbers were indeed a bit of a surprise - I would have expected the LS to fare better.

The drag strip numbers were pretty much on par with what I would expect to see from both cars in a magazine comparo.